Drain valve



Sept. 17, 1929. R. H. GEORGE )7 1,728,678

DRAIN VALVE Filed July 29, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l ENG/IVE CYLINDER-2'0 26 b CONNECTED TO DRA N PIPE CONNECTED TO STEAM CHEST 0F E/YG'INE Inc/em 7:

- lioberZEGeoqQe;

v tbor'ney. I

. Sept. 17, 1929. R. H. GEORGE DRAIN VALVE Filed July 29. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Robeniflzfieoye;

. fltiornqy.

\\\\\\\\\s u/ w &

Patented Sept. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES,

ROBERT H. enonen, ornRooKLAwN, NEW JERSEY r DRAIN Application filed July. 29,

My invention relates to drain valves for steam apparatus and the like, and it relates more particularly to that'type of automatic drain valve which permits the water ofcondensation to flow from the steam apparatus, the valve member being spring suspended, and in use being normally held: on its seat: against the tension of the suspending spring by the live steam pressure. My invention also contemplates a drain valve'whichwill also serve as a relief valve in the event of any abnormal pressure existing in the work-- ing chambers of the steam apparatus.

The principal object'of my presentinvention is to providean improved form of valve of the above mentioned type, which will be simple and efiicient inits action and relatively tion is to provide a valve of said type, of such construction that, when any abnormalpressure exists in the portion of the steam-apparatus which the valve isprimarily adapted to drain, suchpressurewill be exerted against the valve member uniformly about the axis thereof, to the end that the raising of the valve from'its seat at the proper time will be more certain. A further object of my invention is to provide improved means for guiding the valve member within the casing thereby to preclude jamming of said valve member therein. A further object of my invention is to provide improved means for regulating the tension of the suspending spring. A still further object of my inven tion is to provide, as a specific embodiment, a. duplex type of drain valve. particularly adapted for use in connection with locomotive and the like engines, which will permit the entrapped fluid in the ends of the cylinder of the steam engine to pass freely therethrough when the engine is runningwith the steam supply shut off, as occurs, for example, when a locomotive engine is drifting, the construction being such" that likelihood of either end of thecylinder of the engine drawing in air through the drain valve will be reduced to a minimum.

The nature and characteristic features of my present invention will be more readily understood from the following description,

A further object ofmy inven-- VALVE 5 1924. Serial No. 728,843.

taken in connection with the accompan drawings 'formingvpa'rt hereof, in fwhic Figure l is a'vertioalcentral sectional view of a dram valveembodylng the main tea tures of myv present invention,'the valve mems 5 her being shown in the raised or elevated po-; sition assumed when the live steam supply is shut off and the device is draining the water of condensation from thejsteam apparatus in connection with which the same isused; i

Fig. 2 is a top or plan viewthereof; Fig. '3 is a horizontal section thereof, taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section thereof, taken, approximately on the line 44 of Fig, 1;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 1, but show inga duplex type offvalve, particularly; adaptedfor use in connection with locomo-. tive engine cylinders, 1 j

Fig. 6 is a horizontal s'ectionof the device shownin Fig. ,5, t-he sectionwbeing,takeniapproximately on the lined-6 of 5; and Fig. 7 isa transverse vertical section of the lower portion of said structure, this section llji eingtaken approximately onithe line 7-,7 of l teferring now more particularly to Figs. 1 to '4 of the drawings, in. the particular em-fi bodiment of my inventiontherein shown, 10 is a casing having an internal chamber 11, at the bottom ofwhich there isprovided a seat12 for the valve member 13 whichis mounted within the chamberll. The top of the chamber 11 is closed by means of a bonnet 14, which is preferably threadedin the upper end of the casing 10, a sealinglwa'sher 15 being provided and interposedtoseal the joint between the bonnet14sand the casing 10. I

'Extendi'ngfrom one side-of thecasing 1O 90 is a threaded nipple 16,-having a port orpassageway 17, an enlarged portion 18 of which, communicates with the valve chamber 11 at the upper portion thereof above the valve member 13 ,(see Figs. 1 and 3)., This connection nipple 16 is adapted to be connected by suitable piping to the steam apparatus which is to be drained of the water of condensation I which may have accumulated therein. ,This connection nipple 1.6 is preferablyand usual- I steam pressure only during the operation of the same.

Horizontally extending from the lower portion of the casing 10 is a connection nipple 19, which is provided with a port or passageway 20. The port or passageway 20 .terminates in an annular chamber 21 in theseat portion 12 of the casing. 10. The connection nipple 19 is adapted to be connected by means of suitable piping (not shown) to the working portion of the steam apparatus in connection with which the valve is used, for the purpose of draining therefrom any water of condensation which may accumulate therein.

Projecting downward from the bottom of the casing 10 is connection nipple 22, havingan internal. passageway '23 which extendsfrom t-he bottom of the internal chamberll and is adapted to be closed by the valve member 13'when the same is seated, as will be hereinafter more fully explained. The nipple22 is adaptedto be'connected to a drain pipe (not shown) for carrying away the water of condensation which is permitted to pass through the device. 7 I V The under surface of the valve member 13 is frusto-conical in shape, and the valve seat 12 at the bottom of the casing 10 is shaped complemental thereto. This arrangement permitsja construction'inwhich there-are no pockets in which the condensation water might accumulate and freeze, and thus render the device inoperative in cold weather.

Extending upward from the rim of the valve member 13 is a plurality of vertical arms 24, the exterior surfaces of which are almost complemental'to the interior surface of the casing 10, being preferably of a somewhat smaller diameter. The arms 24: serve as a means for guiding the valve member to its seat by preventing the same from tilting during its movement within the casing.

The rim of the valve member 13 is also preferably provided with a plurality of notches or" recesses25, whereby any water of condensation which may accumulate thereon, or pass into the interior of the devlce abovethevalve member 13,1nay readily pass below the same ber 26, being preferably threaded therein,

which serves to confine the enlarged or head portion of a bolt28, the upper end of which is'apertured for the engagement-there of by the hook-shaped lower end of a coil spring 29, forming'a swivel connection between the spring and the valve to permit the valve to rotate with respect thereto. The hook-shaped upper end of thespring 29' engages an aperture inthe lower 'endof'a threaded bolt 30whi'c'h'extends through a stuffing box 31 formed in the upper portion of the honnet 14. The bolt 30 is threaded in the gland 32 of the stufling box, whereby the same may be adjusted from the exterior to vary the tension of the spring 29, when desired. The stuffing box 31 contains suitable packing 33, which not only serves to prevent the leakage of live steam from the interior of the device, but also serves as a means of frictionally retarding the. adjusting bolt 30 against undesired rotation.

The operation of the device as thus far described may now be explained. lNhen the steam apparatus, in connection with which the device is used, is not in operation, and the live steam. supply is shut off, the valve member 13- will be held in the raised or elevated position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings by means of the spring 29, the" upwardly extending arms 24 of the valve member 13 serving to limit the upward movement thereof by abutting against the under surface of the bonnet 14. When said valve member is in this upper position, any water of condensation which: may collect in the live steam line will pass by means of the piping (not shown), which extends to the connection nipple 16, and will thence be permitted to pass through the passagespaces provided by the notches or recesses 25 in the rim of the valve member 13, as well as inthe clearance space between the rim of the valve member 13 and the side walls of the chamber 11, after which the same-will pass downward, and through the passageway 23 of the connection nipple 22, to the drain. 7

Likewise, when the valve member 13'is in the raised or elevated position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, any water of condensation which may collect in the working chambers of the steam apparatus may pass through the pipeline which is'connected to the connection nipple l9, and thence through the passageway 20 to the annular space 21 in the seat portion of the valve casing, and will thencepass through the passageway 23 of the connection nipple 22 to the drain.

When, however, the live steam pressure is turned on in the apparatus, the flow of the steam into-the device will cause the valve member 13 tobe carried downward toits seated position, thereby simultaneously clos-- ing the passageway 23 which extends to the drain and the annular chamber 21 in the seatportion 12 of'the casing. Should, however, any abnormal pressure he createdin that portion of the steam apparatus to which the connection nipple 19 is connected, as will occur, for example, when aquantity of water of condensation accumulates therein, this abnormal pressurewill be exerted against that portion of the under face of the valve member 13 which is exposed to the annular chamber 21, and thereby the valve member 13 will be raised againstzthe live steam pressure on the upper side thereof, and the condensation water will be permitted to flow through the pas sageway 23 to the drain, and the pressurerelieved. I

In similar manner, when the live steam supply is shut off after a period of operation, the pressure remaining in the working chambers will cause the valve member 13 to be raised from its seat, after which it will be held in the raised"position, as hereinbefore set forth, until the live steam supply is again turned on.

it will be noted that when the valve is raised the pressure will. be exerted uniformly about the axis of the valve member, so that the valve will not tend to tilt and will be more readily raised than is the case with valves of this type in whichpressure is exerted on only one side of the axis of the valve member. ldur-v thermore, the arms 24:, which extend upward from the rim or the valve member, will further preclude any possibility of the valve member 13 becoming tilted and thereby jamn'iing in the casing, which might prevent the valve from functioning at the proper time to drain the condensation water from the steam apparatus in connection with which the device is used. c 1

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 5 to 7 of the drawings, there is there shown a duplex type of valve which is particularly adaptable for use in connection with l0comjotive and the like engines, and which will serve not only as an. automatic drain and relief valve, but also as a drifting valve, which will permit the entrappedfluid in the ends of the cylinder of the engine to pass freely therethrough when the engine is running with the steam supply shut oil.

In this arrangement, there are provided two valve devices, arranged side by side with their asings 10 joined integrallyto each other, there being provided a common live steam connection nipple 16, having a port or pas sageway 17 with the enlarged portion 18 thereof extending to the respective chambers the lower part of the valve chamber 11 of each of the valve structures, belowthe seat portion 12 thereof. At each end of the cl1amber35, beyond the place of communicatlon with the respective valve chambers, there is provided an outlet aperture36, preferably arranged on one of the side walls of the chamber 35. In

other respects, the construction and arrange ment of the respective valve structures are I substantially similar to the construction and.

arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 1 of the drawings. 1 1

Likewise, the operation of the respective valve structures, comprising the duplex valve shown in Figs. 5 to 7 of the drawings, is simi lar to that hereinbefore set forth. In this arrangement, however, there is provided an ad ditional function, in that when the engine is drifting, that isto say, when the steam supply shut off, bothvalve members 13 willbe raised to the elevated positions shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and the entrapped steam in the engine cylinder will then be permitted the pressure remaining in the workingchambersof the steam apparatus in connection with which the same is used, after the live steam supply is shutoff, or whether the valve is forced upward by abnormal pressure in the working chambers; in which the means for regulating the tension of the suspending spring is greatly improved; and which may be readily arranged as a duplex valvefor use in connection with locomotive and the like engines, enabling the same to function as an automatic drifting valvewhen the engine is running with the steam supply shut oil. I y 1 Having thus described the nature and characteristic features of myinvention, what, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is; I p

1. An automatic drain valve comprls ng a casing having an internal chamber, a valve member mounted in said chamber, said valve member having its lower working surface of frusto-conical shape and the bottom of the chamber being.correspondingly shaped con'iplemental to the valve to form a seat therefor, the rim of the valve member being so shaped with respect to the chamber asto provide a passageway from above the valve member when the same is elevated, a spring adapted to raise the valve member from its seat, a pipe connect-ion member formed on the casing and having a port communicating with the internal chamberabove thevalve member, the valve seat having an annular chamber formed therein, said annular chamber being closed bythe valve member when the same is seated and the arrangement being such that when fluid under pressure is radmitted into said annular, chamber thepressure tending to ra se the valve member from its seat will be exerted uniformly about the axis of the valve member, a pipe connection memberformed on the casing and having a port communicating with the annular chamber in the valve seat, and the device having a drain passageway at the bottom communicating with the interior of the casing at the bottom of the valve seat.

2. An automatic drain valve comprising a casing having an internal chamber, a valve member mounted in said chamber, said valve member having its lower working surface of frusto-eonical shape and the bottom of the chamber being correspondingly shaped complemental to the valve to form a seat therefor, the rim of the valve member being so shaped with respect to the chamber as to provide a passageway from above the valve member when the same is elevated, a spring adapted to raise the valve member from its seat, a pipe connection member formed on the casing and having a port communicating with the internal chamber above the valve member, the valve seat having an annular chamber formed therein, said annular chamber being closed by the valve member when the same is seated and the arrangement being such that when fluid under pressure is admitted into said annular chamber the pressure tending to raise the valve member from its seat will be exerted uniformly about the axis of the valve member, a pipe connection member formed on the casing and having a port communicating with the annular chamber in the valve seat, the device having a drain passageway at the bottom communicating with the interior of the casing at the bottom of the valve seat, and a plurality of arms carried by the valve member and extending upwardly from the rim thereof adapted to prevent said valve member from tilting within the casing.

3. An automatic drain valve comprising a casing having an internal chamber, a valve member mounted in said chamber, said valve member having its lower working surface of frusto-conical shape and the bottom of the chamber being correspondingly shaped complemental to the valve to form a seat therefor, the rim of the valve member being so shaped with respect to the chamber as to provide'a passageway from above the valve member when the same is elevated, a spring adapted to raise the valve member from its seat, a pipe connection member formed on the casing and having a port communicating with the internal chamber abovethe valve member, the valve seat having an annular chamber formed therein, said annular chamber being closed by the valve member when the same is seated and the arrangement being such that when fluid under pressure is ad mitted into said annular chamber the pressure tending to raise the valve member from its seat will be exerted uniformly about the axis of the valve member, a pipe connection member formed on the casing and having a port communicating with the annular chamber in the valve seat, the device having a drain passageway at the bottom communieating with the interior of the casing at the bottom of the valve seat, a plurality of arms carried by the valve member and extending upwardly from the rim thereof adapted to prevent said valve member from tilting within the casing, and the valve member having a plurality of recesses in the rim thereof forming a passageway to permit drainage from above the valve member.

4. An automatic drain valve comprising a casing having an internal chamber, a valve member mounted in said chamber, the lower surface of said valve member being frustoconical in shape and the bottom of the chamber being shaped complemental to the valve to form a seat therefor, a pipe connection member extending from one side of the easing and having a port extending to the internal chamber above said valve member, a pipe connection member extending from the side of the casing having a port extending to the valve seat, the device having a drain passageway at the bottom communicating with the interior of the casing at the bottom of the valve seat, a bonnet mounted in the upper portion of the casing, a spring adapted to raise the valve member from its seat, the valve member being suspended from one end of said spring, a bolt to the inner end of which the other end of said spring is secured, and a stufling box carried by the bonnet through which said bolt extends.

5. An automatic drain valve comprising a casing having an internal chamber, a valve member mounted in said chamber, the lower surface of said valve member being frustoconical in shape and the bottom of the chamber being shaped complemental to the valve to form a seat therefor, a pipe connection member extending from one side of the casing and having a port extending to the internal chamber above said valve member, a pipe connection member extending to the valve seat, the device having a drain passageway at the bottom communicating with the interior of the casing at the bottom of the valve seat, a bonnet mounted in the upper portion of the casing, a spring adapted to raise the valve member from its seat, the valve member being suspended from one end of said spring, a bolt to the inner end of which the other end of said spring is secured, and a stufiing box carried by the bonnet through which said bolt extends and in a portion of which said bolt is threaded.

6. An automatic drain valve comprising a casing having an internal chamber, a valve member mounted in said chamber, the lower surface of said valve member being frustoconical in shape and the bottom of the chamher being shaped complemental to the valve to form a seat therefor, a pipe connection member extending from one side of the casing and having a port extending to the internal chamber above said valve member, a pipe connection member extending from the side of the casing having a port extending to the valve seat, the device having a drain passageway at the bottom communicating with the interior of the casing at the bottom of the valve seat, a bonnet mounted in the upper portion of the casing,a spring adapted to raise the valve member from its seat, the valve member being suspended from one end of said spring, a bolt to the inner end of which the other end of said spring is secured, and a stuifing box carried by the bonnet through which said bolt extends, said stufiing box having a gland member in which said bolt is threaded.

7 An automatic drain valve comprising a casing having an internal chamber, a valve member mounted in said chamber, the lower surface of said valve member being frustoconical in shape and the'bottom of the chamber being shaped complemental to the valve to form a seat therefor, a pipe connection member extending from oneside ofthe casing and having a port extending to the internal chamber above said valve member, a pipe connection member extending from the side of the casing having a port extending to the valve seat, the device having a drain passageway at the bottom communicating with the interior of the casing at the bottom of the valve seat, a bonnet mounted in the upper portion of the casing, a spring adapted to raise the valve member from its seat, the valve member being rotatably suspended from one end or said spring, a bolt to the inner end of which the other end of said spring is secured, and a stuffing box carried by the bonnet through which said bolt extends and in a portion of which said bolt is threaded.

8. An automatic drain valve comprising a casing having an internal chamber, a valve member mounted in said chamber, the lower surface of said valve member being frustoconical in shape and the bottom of the chamber being shaped complemental to the valve to form a seat therefor, a pipe connection member extending from one side of the casing and having a port extending to the internal chamber above said valve member, a pipe'connection member extending from the side of the casing having a port extending to the valve seat, the device having a drain passageway at the bottom communicating with the interior of the casing at the bottom of the valve seat,

a spring adapted to raise the valve member from its seat, the valve member being suspended from one end of said spring, a bolt to the inner end of which the other end of said spring is secured, and a stufling box through which said bolt extends.

9 A valve deviceiadapted to serve as an,

automaticdrain, relief, and 9drifting? valve for locomotive and the like engines, compris ing a casinghavinga pair ofvalve devices arranged therein in proximity, toieachiother, the casing havinganinternal chamberi'or each of saidvalve devices, a valve member mounted in eachiof said chambers, the bot: toms of the respective chambers beingv shaped complemental to said valvesto form seats tllfilfeionthe rims of the valve members being so shaped with vrespect to the chambers as to provide passageways from above the valve members whenthe same are elevated, a spring for each of said valve members adapted to raise the same fromitsseat, apipe con: nections member extending from onev side of thecasingand having :a port extending to each s of the internal chambers above said valve members, each ofthe. valve seats hav: ing an annular chamber formed therein, separate pipe connection members extending from the sides of, the casing and respectively havingports extending to the annular, chambers in the valve seats, thecasinghaving a chamber formed therein below thevalve devicesand each ofsaid valve devices having a passageway at the bottom constituting a communicationbetweensaid chamber and the interior otthe respective valve devices, and one of the walls of said chamber havingan aperture at the end thereof forming a, drain pas-v sageway from said chamber to the exterior. l0.A. valve deviceadapted ,to serve as an automatic drain,relief, and drifting valve for locomotive: and the like engines,comprising a casing having a pairfof valve devicesarranged therein in proximity toeach other,

the casing haying an internal chamber for each of said valvedevices, a-}valve;member mounted in each ofsaid chambers, the lower surfaces of saidvalve members being frustoe conical in shape and the bottoms of the respective chambers being shaped complemental to said valves to form seats therefor, the

rims of the valve members being so shaped with respect to the chambers as to provide passageways from above the valvexmembers when the same are elevated, a spring for each of said valve members adapted to raise the same from its seat, a pipe connection member extending from one side of the casing and having a port extending to each of the internal chambers above said valve members, each of the valve seats having an annular chamber formed therein, separate pipe connection members extendingt'rom the sides of the casing and respectively having ports extending to the annularchambers in the valve seats, the casing having a chamber formed therein below the valve devices and eachof said valve devices having a passageway at the bottom constituting a communication between said chamber and theinterior ofthe respective valve devices, and one of the walls of said chamber having an aperture at the end thereof forming a drainpassageway from said chamber to the exterior.

11. A valve device adapted toserve as an 5 automatic drain, relief, and drifting valve for locomotive and the like engines, comprising a casing having a pair of valve devices arranged therein in proximity to each other, the casing havingan internalchamber for 1 each of said valve devices, a valve member mounted in each of said chambers, the lower surfaces of said valve members being trusteconical in shape and the bottoms of the respective chambers being shaped complemen- 1 tal to said valves to form seats therefor, the rims of thevalve members being so shaped with respect to the chambers as to provide passageways from above the valveimembers when the same are elevated, a spring for each of said valve members adapted to raise the same from its seat, a pipe connection member extending from one side efth'e casing and having a port extending te each of the internal chambers abovesaid valve members, each of the valve seats having an annular chamber formed therein, separate pipe-connection members extending from the sides of the easing and respectively having ports: extending to the annular chambers in the valve seats, the casing having a chamber formed therein below the valve devices and each of said valve devices having a passageway at the bottom constituting a-commu-nication between said chamber and the interior of the respective valve devices, and the side walls of said chamher having apertures at each end thereof form-inga drain passageway from said chamber to the exterior.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 4-0 signed my name.

ROBERT n. chosen 7 

